Memorable Comeback Not Enough In Utah State’s Semifinal Loss
Mar 15, 2025, 12:47 AM | Updated: Mar 17, 2025, 11:58 am
LAS VEGAS, Nevada – Utah State made a valiant effort after falling behind by 28 early in the second half but couldn’t get over the hill in an 83-72 loss to Colorado State. The Aggies were thoroughly outplayed for the first 32 minutes but staged a furious comeback that fell just short in a loss that ended their Mountain West title hopes.
No. 3 Utah State took on No. 2 Colorado State in the Mountain West Championships semifinals on Friday, March 14.
Final. pic.twitter.com/eWRzjjMBeM
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 15, 2025
Mason Falslev led three Aggies in double figures with 22 points. Ian Martinez added 13, and Karson Templin finished with 11 points and a team-high nine rebounds.
Nique Clifford finished with a 26-point, 11-rebound double-double. The NBA prospect added six assists in 35 minutes.
First Half
The first two minutes looked eerily similar to the opening half against Colorado State two weeks ago. The Rams jumped out to an 8-1 lead with outside shooting, while USU looked overwhelmed by CSU’s length and athleticism.
Karson Templin scored the Aggie’s first bucket off a find from Ian Martinez with 17:06 left. Mason Falslev hit a three on the next possession as Utah State began finding a rhythm.
1⃣2⃣ for 3⃣ pic.twitter.com/fpugW1FKOM
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 15, 2025
Falslev brought his team within one, fighting through traffic for an old-fashioned three-point play. The sophomore scored eight points in the first five minutes of action.
Colorado State couldn’t be stopped from three, making their first four shots from beyond the arc to lead 18-11 with 13:30 left.
The deficit ballooned to 26-12 midway through the half.
Utah State responded with a 7-0 run to keep the lead under double-digits.
KT will not be denied! pic.twitter.com/Qo83VvDV5v
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 15, 2025
The Rams led 29-19 at the under-eight-minute media timeout.
Utah State went more than three minutes without a field goal against a relentless defense, allowing CSU to go up 39-25 with 3:46 left.
Colorado State closed the half on a 14-2 surge before Martinez knocked down a three at the horn to make it 49-30 at the half.
At the half. pic.twitter.com/mqVZLnok0A
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 15, 2025
The Aggies missed 11 of 14 threes, while the Rams shot 61.5 percent (8-of-13) from deep and 64 percent overall.
Second Half
The halftime didn’t seem to help the Aggies. Colorado State expanded its lead to 59-34 at the first media timeout.
Utah State missed 9-of-12 shots and all six of its three-point attempts before the second media timeout. The only bright note was a Falslev steal and one-handed dunk that evoked images of former Phoenix Sun ‘Thunder’ Dan Majerle.
Nice steal and SLAM by @USUBasketball pic.twitter.com/2p80cxVgDJ
— CBS Sports College Basketball 🏀 (@CBSSportsCBB) March 15, 2025
USU went on a 13-0 run, cutting the deficit to 71-57 with 5:52 left.
The Aggie defense tightened up, holding Colorado State without a field for more than eight minutes. CSU got to the free throw line a handful of times but missed six straight shots down the stretch and committed a turnover on a shot-clock violation.
Falslev broke loose for another dunk with 3:06 left, bringing Utah State within 11. The bucket gave Falslev 22 for the game and 14 in the second half.
Mason gets downhill to cut into the deficit! pic.twitter.com/Aik63GM9Qf
— USU Men's Hoops (@USUBasketball) March 15, 2025
Two Martinez freebies cut the Ram lead to 76-68 with under two minutes to play.
Utah State went cold in the final two minutes. Free throws helped Colorado State pull away for the 83-72 win.
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Brian Preece is a sports.ksl.com insider covering Locals in MLB and the Salt Lake Bees. Follow Brian’s Bees and Beehive baseball here. Find Brian on X and Instagram and BlueSky at @bpreece24.
